Guwahati, June 19: In the wake of tension along Assam-Mizoram inter-state border prevailing in the recent times, Minister for Environment and Forest, Parimal Suklabaidya met with the reviewed the situation along with MLAs and Deputy Commissioner, PCCF cum HoFF, CCF, DFOs and other range officials at the conference hall of Cachar Deputy Commissioner on Saturday.
Chairing the review meeting, Suklabaidya made his point clear that strict vigil must be kept on forest land and no encroachment must take place. "A strict vigil has to be maintained so that there is no encroachment on forest land," he quipped. The Minister also took note of the issue of eviction of encroachers from forestland. He instructed the district administrations and forest officials to keep a close watch in every village area so that 'no person comes from outside and if anyone is settled that person has to strictly follow forest rules and regulations'.
Suklabaidya also underscored the need for plantation drive on priority basis, particularly during the rainy season in all the three districts of the valley. He asked the officials to take immediate stringent action against those involved in illegal cutting or felling of trees and those operating illegal band sawmills and to book the offenders under relevant provisions of law.
Suklabaidyaalso underscored the need for plantation drive on priority basis, particularly during the rainy season in all the three districts of the valley. He asked the officials to take immediate stringent action against those involved in illegal cutting or felling of trees and those operating illegal band sawmills and to book the offenders under relevant provisions of law. The Minister called for a cohesive and pragmatic approach by all the DFOs and Forest Range Officers in association with the administrations of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts to put a stop to all illegal activities, freeing forest land from encroachers and bringing more and more areas under plantations in order to make Assam pollution free State.
The meeting discussed the status of sand mahals in the three districts and creation of new mahals to generate revenue. Among The key issues discussed in the meeting, creation of a Wildlife Division in BarakValley was also discussed with Minister Suklabaidya directing the senior officials to expedite the process.
MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, Mihir Kanti Shome, Kaushik Rai, Deputy Commissioner,Keerthi Jalli, PCCF cum HoFF, AM Singh, CCF, Barak Valley, Jatin Sarma, DFO,Silchar, Sunny Deo Choudhury, DFO, Karimganj, Jainur Ali, DFO, Hailakandi,Mantaj Ali and other range officials were present in the review meeting.